Top 50 TV stars in UAE

Time Out looks at the hottest men and women on television in the Middle East

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05 October 2009

Time Out looks at the hottest men and women on television in the Middle East

The show: DollhouseThe character: EchoThe actress: Eliza DushkuCatch it: America Plus, Wednesday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: Dushku came to the attention of casting agents when she was 10. She was chosen at the end of a five month search throughout the United States for the lead role of Alice, playing with Juliette Lewis in the film That Night. In 1993, Dushku landed a role as Pearl alongside Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy's Life, a role that she said opened a lot of doors.

The show: HeroesThe character: Claire BennetThe actress: Hayden PanettiereCatch it: Showseries, Tuesdays 9pmWhat does Wiki say: Still only 20 years old but with 19 and a half years experience in front of camera Panettiere’s petite figure hides a heavyweight reputation as a bankable star. Eight years before pulling on the cheerleader’s uniform for Heroes she was a voice actor in the film A Bug’s Life.

The show: EntourageThe character: Vincent ChaseThe actor: Adrian GrenierCatch it: Supercomedy, Mondays 7.30pmWhat does Wiki say: According to him, the worst thing he has ever done is convince two girls to give him twenty dollars. He feels so bad about it because they just vulnerably handed the money over to him.

The show: LostThe character: Kate AustenThe actress: Evangeline Lilly Catch it: Showseries, Tuesday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: When Canadian Lilly was cast as Kate in Lost, her main concern was acquiring a work visa to enter the United States. With production literally days away and no news about the visa, casting directors were forced to grudgingly begin re-casting the role of Kate. After nearly 20 auditions, Lilly's work visa was approved but she arrived on set a day late.

The show: The OCThe character: Ryan AtwoodThe actor: Benjamin McKenzieCatch it: MBC, Saturday 11pmWhat does Wiki say: One of the first things he bought with his earnings from acting was a pair of $800 black leather boots.

The show: 30 RockThe character: Cerie XeroxThe actress: Katrina Bowden Catch it: Show Comedy, Saturdays 8pmWhat does Wiki say: In 2006 she joined the daytime drama One Life to Live but had to quit before her two episodes aired since the schedules conflicted with her role in 30 Rock.

The show: CharmedThe character: Paige MatthewsThe actress: Rose McGowanCatch it: MBC4, Everyday 12pmWhat does Wiki say: After Shannon Doherty was killed-off in Charmed the producers had to find a sultry star to take her place. And stars don’t come much more sultry than Rose McGowan. Just ask Quentin Tarantino and Brian de Palma who have made her the go-to-girl when a vampy female character is required. Will she be able to pull off the role of Barberella in next next year’s remake? We can’t wait to find out…

The show: One Tree HillThe character: Lucas ScottThe actor: Chad Michael MurrayCatch it: Mondays 21.00pm Dubai OneWhat does Wiki say: He was very scared of dolls when he was still a little kid.

The show: CSI: MiamiThe character: Natalie Boa VistaThe actress: Eva La Rue Catch it: Showseries, Sunday 10pm (coming soon) What does Wiki say: From 1993 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2005, LaRue portrayed Dr. Maria Santos Grey on All My Children. There, she was half of All My Children supercouple Edmund and Maria. She received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series" for All My Children.

The show: My Name Is EarlThe character: DarnellThe actor: Eddie SteeplesCatch it: Show Comedy, Everyday 8pm What does Wiki say: Eddie's first role in a feature film was in the 2002 drama, People Are Dead. His role was cop #2.

The show: Grey’s AnatomyThe character: Mark SloanThe actor: Eric DaneCatch it: Showseries, Tuesday 7pmWhat does Wiki say: He had to use double-stick tape to keep the towel on during his shower scene in Grey's Anatomy.

The show: The Ghost WhispererThe character: Melinda GordonThe actress: Jennifer Love HewittCatch it: Showseries extra, Fridays 4pmWhat does Wiki say: Another child star with a career that long career that hides a relative youthfulness. Like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake she developed her career as a presenter/actress at the Disney Channel. And like all of the above she found even bigger fame when she stepped into adulthood and raunchy yet family-friendly roles.

The show: Will & GraceThe character: Will TrumanThe actor: Eric McCormackCatch it: Show Comedy, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30pm What does Wiki say: Eric named his son Finnigan after the puppet in "Mr. Dressup" (1967). He refers to his acting repertoire as his "tickle trunk" also from that show.

The show: True BloodThe character: Sookie StackhouseThe actress: Anna Paquin Catch it: America Plus, Saturday to Thursday, 12midnightWhat does Wiki say: The most famous 27-year-old Oscar winning actress you’ve never heard of? Almost certainly. But the facts are there – Paquin picked up a Best Supporting actor in the film The Piano. A trio of appearances in the X-Men filled in the middle and allowed her to do her growing up on screen. After steaming up the screens in True Blood it seems likely that we will see a lot more of Paquin and hope she gets back to her Oscar-winning ways.

The show: Ugly BettyThe character: Amanda TanenThe actress: Becki Newton Catch it: Showseries, Everyday 11 pmWhat does Wiki say: Time Out being the magazine it is really should have taken Ugly Betty herself on this list because it is inside that counts, right? Wrong? Becki Newton’s catty co-worker character is one if the stand out hilarious characters of the show and is impressive eye candy if you don’t like the humour.

The show: Mad MenThe character: Roger SterlingThe actor: John SlatteryCatch it: MBC4, Tuesday 8pm What does Wiki say: He was asked to take off his clothes on his first acting role with Nathan Lane. This was more embarrassing because his father was there to see it, and he was sitting in the front row and could hear him clearing his throat, slinking down his chair.

The show: Burn NoticeThe character: Fiona GlenanneThe actress: Gabrielle Anwar Catch it: Tuesday 10pmWhat does Wiki say: A British actress making big waves in America. While still making a reputation for herself in Britain it is in the tremendously popular Burn Notice that she is going to become a household name. Expect film roles and more star turns in television on both sides of the channel.

The show: Mad MenThe character: Don DraperThe actor: Jon HammCatch it: MBC4, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Jon taught in a daycare center when he was in college. He was also involved in after-school programs for little kids.

The show: Samantha WhoThe character: Andrea BelladonnaThe actress: Jennifer Esposito Catch it: Showseries, Saturday 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Esposito made her first television appearance in Law & Order in 1996, but she is best known as Stacey in the prime time hit Spin City. She also appeared in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer playing Nancy, who gets a spear through her chest.

The show: The UnusualsThe character: Casey SchraegerThe actress: Amber TamblynCatch it: Showseries, Saturday 8pmWhat does Wiki say: At the age of ten, she played Pippi Longstocking at the Santa Monica Alternative School House; her father's agent, Sharon Debord, was attending as a family friend and ended up convincing her father to allow Tamblyn to go on auditions.

The show: EntourageThe character: EricThe actor: Kevin ConnellyCatch it: Supercomedy, Mondays 7.30pm What does Wiki say: Kevin is an avid poker player and likes to be wearing hats with the G-Unit logo.

The show: Grey’s AnatomyThe character: Dr. Isobel StevensThe actress: Katherine Heigl Catch it: Showseries, Tuesday 7pmWhat does Wiki say: Anybody who can overcome starring as Steven Segal’s niece and still go onto have a healthy career is worthy of respect. But that is exactly what Heigl has done. Keeping her feet straddled between drama and comedy Heigl is leading woman material of the highest order. A very strong feminist she campaigns for women’s rights and is a decent bet to become one of the world’s best paid actresses in future years.

The show: The OCThe character: Sanford "Sandy" CohenThe actor: Peter GallagherCatch it: MBC, Saturday 11pmWhat does Wiki say: One of his fans said about his eyebrows 'I'd like to cut them up, make tea out of them, and drink it.'

The show: Mad menThe character: Joan HollawayThe actress: Christina HendricksCatch it: MBC4, Tuesday 8pm What does Wiki say: Despite being widely regarded as one of the most recognizable redheads on television Christine is actually a natural blonde. She has, however, been dying her hair red since she was 10.

The show: SmallvilleThe character: Lana LangThe actress: Kristin Kreuk Catch it: Showseries, Wednesday 10pmWhat does Wiki say: Proof, if proof were needed, that globalization can be a wonderful thing. Kristin was born in Canada, her father, Peter Kreuk, is of Dutch descent; her mother, Deanna Che, is of Chinese descent, but was born in Indonesia; her maternal grandmother was born in Jamaica of Chinese descent. Just as well her on-screen boyfriend can fly around the world really.

The show: Lipstick JungleThe character: Kirby AtwoodThe actor: Robert BuckleyCatch it: Showseries, Monday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: As a child Robert was on the chubby side and he swam with a t-shirt on.

The show: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles The character: Sarah ConnorThe actress: Lena HeadeyCatch it: MBC4, Friday 7pmWhat does Wiki say: Headey was born in Bermuda, where her father, an English police officer, was sent to train as a policeman. The family returned to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, when she was eight years old.

The show: True BloodThe character: Jason StackhouseThe actor: Ryan KwantenCatch it: America Plus, Saturday to Thursday 12midnightWhat does Wiki say: He loves to play scrabble and he’s proud to say that he is undefeatable. He often play scrabble alone on his bed against himself.

The show: Lipstick JungleThe character: Victory FordThe actress: Lindsay Price Catch it: Showseries, Monday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: Might hold a record for appearing on the most shows on this list. As well as childhood appearances in Airwolf and The Wonder years she has clocked up credits in CSI, Frasier, Becker, How I Met Your Mother, Las Vegas, NCIS, well – you get the idea.

The show: My Name is EarlThe character: Catalina ArucaThe actress: Nadine Velazquez Catch it: Super Comedy, Sunday 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Nadine’s first on-screen role was as McDonalds drive-thru worker but she was spotted and offered a role as an inmate’s girlfriend in Prison Break. She turned it down to take the role of feisty housemaid and white trash taunter Catalina in My Name is Earl.

The show: HouseThe character: Dr. Robert Chase The actor: Jesse Spencer Catch it: Showseries, Tuesday and Wednesday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: Jesse used to play Billy in Aussie soap Neighbours before he hit Hollywood.

The show: HouseThe character: Remy HadleyThe actress: Olivia Wilde Catch it: Showseries, Tuesday and Wednesday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: She was strongly considered to play Bond girl Vesper Lynd in the 21st Bond film Casino Royale; Eva Green eventually won the role.

The show: The OCThe character: Summer RobertsThe actress: Rachel Bilson Catch it: MBC, Saturday 11pmWhat does Wiki say: Television is a breeding ground for movie starlets. Whatever anybody tells you about the medium being massive in its own right it is still a stepping stone for Hollywood. And in Rachel Bilson there is a starlet ready to make the leap. Slightly in the shadow of her co-star Mischa Barton she is set to make the big step forward with two major film roles before the end of this year.

The show: HouseThe character: Dr. James WilsonThe actor: Robert Sean Leonard Catch it: Showseries, Tuesday and Wednesday 9pmWhat does Wiki say: Robert acted alongside Emma Thompson and Kate Beckinsale in the film of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

The show: 24The character: Kim BauerThe actress: Elisha CuthbertCatch it: American Plus, Saturday 12midnight ( coming soon) What does Wiki say: Playing the daughter of the toughest man on television Elisha Cuthbert is used to being protected by a tough loved one. The same could have happened on the big screen as well. She auditioned to play Peter Parker’s girlfriend in Spider-Man as well. Eventually the role went to Kirsten Dunst and Cuthbert’s big screen career still languishes.

The show: Prison BreakThe character: Michael ScofieldThe actor: Wentworth MillerCatch it: Showseries, Sundays 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Loves to play scrabble at home with friends rather than partying or going to bars. He also doesn’t watch Prison Break.

The show: EmmerdaleThe character: Katie SugdenThe actress: Sammy Winward Catch it: Showseries, Monday 5pmWhat does Wiki say: Soap star plus Premiership footballer is normally prime tabloid fodder. But Emmerdale’s Sammy Winward has managed to avoid too much intrusion into her private life. Winward was engaged to footballer David Dunn. Their daughter Mia was born at home Sammy and David later split in September of that year, but remain friends.

The show: ScrubsThe character: John J.D DorianThe actor: Zach BraffCatch it: Showseries, Wednesdays 7.30pmWhat does Wiki say: According to an article in The Chicago Sun-Times, when Braff won his Best First Feature Independent Spirit Award for Garden State (2004), his father jumped up from a back table in the room and yelled, "That's my kid!"

The show: Prison BreakThe character: Sara Trancedi The actress: Sarah Wayne CalliesCatch it: Showseries, Sundays 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Considering she is the lead female character in one of the world’s most famous TV shows surprisingly little is known about Sarah Wayne Callies. We do know, however, that she is married to a martial arts instructor. Must come in useful for all that prison combat.

The show: HeroesThe character: Sylar (Gabriel Gray) The actor: Zachary John QuintoCatch it: Showseries, Tuedays 8pmWhat does Wiki say: Quinto was the reader of the audiobook version of the 2009 novelization of Star Trek.

The show: One Tree HillThe character: Brooke DavisThe actress: Sophia Bush Catch it: America Plus, Monday 10pmWhat does Wiki say: Bush made her first big screen appearance in the comedy feature film Van Wilder. Following, she made appearances in several television shows, such as Nip/Tuck and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She was cast as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, but was replaced by Claire Danes because the director thought she was too young for the role.